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Vanuatu immigration applicants can have their fingerprints collected in Hong Kong in the future

On December 6th, the Consulate General of Vanuatu in Hong Kong officially launched overseas issuance services for Vanuatu passports. Vanuatu immigration applicants (including local citizens and investment immigrants applying for citizenship) will be able to collect fingerprints and obtain electronic chip passports in Hong Kong. Vanuatu's Minister of Home Affairs Andrew Solomon Napuat, Vanuatu's Consul General in Hong Kong George Bogiri, and Immigration Director Jeffery Markson attended the launch ceremony held in Hong Kong.

According to the arrangement, the Vanuatu Immigration Department will deploy a passport issuing officer to be responsible for passport issuance at the Consulate General in Hong Kong. It takes about 10-15 minutes for the consulate general to issue a passport (including photography and fingerprint input).

Vanuatu immigration applications are still submitted locally

It is worth noting that although the passport issuance process has been simplified in Hong Kong, the application process for citizenship by investment still needs to follow established procedures. Specifically, applicants still need to submit their naturalization application through a government designated agency in Vanuatu and have it approved by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.
Once citizenship is approved, the applicant must personally go to the Vanuatu Immigration Department or its Consulate General in Hong Kong to complete fingerprint collection, photo taking, and electronic chip passport collection.

In the future, fingerprint entry points will be established in Europe and the Middle East

In the future, the Vanuatu government also plans to further expand the coverage of its passport issuance services. It is reported that the Vanuatu government is considering setting up passport issuance service points at the Embassy in the European Union (Brussels, Belgium) and the Consulate General in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to further facilitate passport applicants to complete fingerprint entry and passport collection procedures nearby.

Vanuatu Immigration Project

Passport application requirements

1. At least 18 years old (can bring parents over 55 years old, spouse, and children under 25 years old);
2. No criminal record;
3. Government donations start at $80000.

Passport application process

1. Sign a contract;
2. Preliminary background check by immigration lawyers;
3. Prepare materials to pay the down payment;
4. Submit the complete set of documents to the immigration lawyer;
5. Formal background check;
6. Immigration lawyers submit a complete set of documents;
7. Principle approval; Pay the final payment
8. Prime Minister nominates President's recommendation to become a citizen of Vanuatu

Overall cycle: Successfully obtain the original passport within 2-3 months.